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CAT
Computer Adaptive Tests

The GMAT, GRE and TOEFL are now exclusively CAT (Computer-Adaptive Tests). It is very important that you understand the concept of the CAT, and the strategies you should employ when answering questions. The following information gives you a full description of the CAT and CAT strategies.

In the last few years, the ETS (Educational Testing Service which administers the GMAT, GRE and TOEFL tests)  has introduced computer adaptive test (CAT) forms, as opposed to paper-and-pencil (scantron) test forms. Today, you can take the GMAT, GRE and TOEFL only on a computer, clicking on what you think is the correct answer. I'm going to explain the way CATs are scored and the best strategy for taking one.

All Is Not Created Equal

The CAT gives varying weights to the questions. Each CAT question is added to provide a raw score, which is converted into a scaled score. Let us take an example: the GMAT scaled scores range from 200-800, with the Quantitative and Verbal raw scores combined into a single score; A paper-and-pencil test gives each correct question the same point value whereas a CAT gives each correct question a different point value.

Next, you should understand how ETS assigns weights to the CAT questions. The questions are roughly divided into thirds, and the first-third of the questions in any section is weighted the most. This means that the first third of the questions determines the bulk of your scaled score. The second third accounts for a lesser amount of the scaled score, and the last third counts for a relatively insignificant amount of your overall score.

What the ...?

Before you ask why ETS has structured the test this way, you should ask, "How should I approach a test with such a bizarre setup?" My answer is this: Make sure you do your best on the first third of the questions in each section. Then, focus on the second third. Your personal goal will dictate how much time you spend on the last third.

Let's place the idea of weighted questions in context. A section will begin with an "average-level" question. For simplicity's sake, we will associate this question with a scaled score of 500, which is an average GMAT score. If I get this question right, my scaled score could increase by as much as 80 points; if I get it wrong, my scaled score could decrease by as much as 80 points. See how much significance is placed on the first group of questions? Your raw, and thus scaled, score can become very high or very low in no time.

What Else Can I Do?

Be cautious. You want to be sure about accuracy on early questions, and worry less about getting to the last questions in a section. Remember, later questions have a progressively smaller impact on your overall score, but you need to answer all of them. If you are pressed for time, guess. Just don't leave any questions unanswered.

I know, you're still thinking, "But why?" Well, hold those thoughts and take in a couple more details. First, along with getting a question right or wrong, the level of difficulty of the next question will change. A correct answer "rewards" you with a harder question; an incorrect answer "rewards" you with an easier question. Potentially, each of you can have a different test in terms of the questions that you see. There are a significant number of experimental questions sprinkled in as well, and the experimental questions do not factor into your score. It is hard to predict how you are doing throughout the test because you could get a very easy or difficult experimental question out of the blue. You won't know how you did on the prior question, so just focus on doing your best on each question.

What does all this mean?

This means that is relatively easy to attain an average score (about 500/677 in the TOEFL; about 520/800 in the GMAT) but extremely difficult to score very high. Why? Because the ETS has organized things in such a way that the majority (1 standard deviation) score around the statistical mean. Remember that the ETS records each and every score from every test that every examinee takes and adds it to its database. Therefore, to do very well in a CAT test you simply have to work and practise very hard. For example, if you get 740/800 in the GMAT that score puts you in the top 4% of test takers in the world. Many think that the CATs can be "played" like a probability game: that is, you can go into the exam relatively unprepared but make calculated guesses on the questions that you are not certain. This ploy, however, will only result in the computer program severely punishing you: In the cases that you do not know the correct answer to a question you will probably respond too quickly prompting the computer program to send you to an easier question - even if you answer correctly - or you simply answer incorrectly again resulting in the same fate. Therefore, there are a number of parameters that have been carefully modeled so that the test taker cannot possibly get away with scoring a high mark without having done the appropriate preparation. In this sense the ETS CATs are fair and valid tests. So you had better get used to the fact that in order to score a high mark in a CAT you must do the appropriate systematic preparation. Good luck!